Albany ranks No. 3 in U.S. for summer rental car prices

Albany is the third most expensive U.S. destination for renting a car this summer, with average daily rates at $146, according to a Cheapcarrental.com survey of 100 airports. The jump puts Albany ahead of most major markets and comes as average rental prices nationwide also rise more than 13% from last year. Why it matters: - Albany’s ranking shows summer car rental costs are surging in some Northeast markets, making travel more expensive for visitors and residents. - The higher prices come during the peak June-to-August travel window, when demand is typically strongest. - New York travelers are seeing elevated rates in multiple airports, not just Albany. What happened: - Cheapcarrental.com ranked Albany, NY as the No. 3 most expensive U.S. airport destination for summer car rentals. - The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports for June 1-Aug. 31, 2026. - Albany’s average daily rate for the most affordable rental car was $146. - That is more than 60% higher than Albany’s summer 2025 rate. - The full survey results are available in the company’s announcement . The details: - Anchorage, Alaska ranked first at $182 per day. - Bozeman Yellowstone airport in Montana ranked second at $164 per day. - Portland, Maine ranked fourth at $138 per day. - Boston ranked fifth at $136 per day. - New York City’s LaGuardia airport ranked sixth at $115 per day. - JFK airport ranked 15th at $104 per day. - Buffalo ranked 18th at $103 per day. - Rochester ranked 26th at $94 per day. - Syracuse ranked 29th at $92 per day. - The average daily rate across all 100 airports was $82.90. - That average was up more than 13% from 2025. - Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan airport saw the biggest increase, with rates more than doubling from last year. - The survey included only rental companies located directly at an airport or at the airport’s rental car center. Between the lines: - Albany’s price spike stands out because other New York airports are costly, but most were described as relatively stable year over year. - The data suggests airport convenience locations are carrying a premium, especially in markets with strong summer travel demand. - The spread between the cheapest and priciest markets is wide, with Albany far above the national average. What’s next: - Summer rates will likely remain tied to peak travel demand through Aug. 31, 2026. - Travelers booking later in the season may still face higher prices in the most constrained markets. - More shifts could appear as airlines, tourism demand and rental inventory change through the summer. The bottom line: - Albany is one of the nation’s priciest places to rent a car this summer, and the broader market is getting more expensive too.